About This Caboose

The 2457 Pennsylvania N5 Caboose was introduced by Lionel in 1945 and was sold for three years (through 1947). Excluding variations caused by different truck and coupler combinations, there are still multiple versions of this car. The most common one has a painted-red body and smokestack, white rubber-stamped lettering (which includes "EASTERN DIV" on the side), and black window frames. Another version has a black smokestack, another one has red window frames and another lacks "EASTERN DIV" on the side. The presence or absence of extra steps on the frame create still more versions. There are also two brown-painted 2457 cabooses (one with lettering that was centered and another with off-center lettering). With its interior illumination, smokestack, air pump, battery box, brakestands, ladders, window frames and window inserts, it is actually a deluxe version of the 2472 caboose.

Photos of two different 2457 N5 Cabooses
ABOVE: Left side of a 2457. BELOW: Right side (version with steps & 2 couplers).

Additional Details

The sturdy tinplate 2457 caboose represents a carryover design from the prewar era. It is very similar to Lionel's 2757 and 2757X cabooses which were produced in 1941 and 1942. The postwar 2457 caboose came with many different versions of staple-end trucks and either one or two coil couplers. Although the number "477618" appears on the sides of this caboose, that was not Lionel's catalog number. Lionel's catalog number ("2457") is rubber-stamped in silver on the frame's underside on some cabooses while others had no identification.

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This page is an information document only; nothing on this web page is being offered for sale. This page and all of the other pages from Our Archives were developed to assist you in understanding differences in variations of engines, rolling stock, cabooses, passenger cars, and accessories sold by Lionel in the postwar era. We have used pictures from our old files and personal collection to construct this area of our website to show the characteristics of collectible variations. If you are interested in buying something, please go to one of our inventory listings to see what we currently have for sale.

This web page was last updated on September 5, 2005. If you have suggestions for improving this page or if you see any errors, please contact us.

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